boat test bluewater 450

when the sum is greater than the parts — the Bluewater 450

In thIs revIew we take a look at a blue AY editor, Barry Henson, takes water cruising boat, a boat that is de- signed from the up to take you down the Bluewater 450 for a test sail the coast or across oceans with equal degrees of confidence—it’s the Bluewa- on Moreton Bay and discovers ter 450—and it’s made in Australia by Bluewater Yachts. a world-class Australian cruiser. The challenge with reviewing a semi- custom boat is that certain aspects of the design are determined by the client, others by the builder or designer. Try- ing to identify the source of features is not as easy as it sounds, so this review is of Charlie’s Dream, an execution of the Bluewater 450, rather than of the Blue- water 450 as a concept. the Design brief I always review each boat against crite- ria relevant for the designed use. Unfor- tunately, many boat builders try to por- tray their boat as all things to all people, i.e. ‘this boat will take your family safely around the world and put you first in your IRC division’. Hmmm. Will it make coffee and pay my bills as well? Thankfully, the Bluewater 450’s de- sign brief is fairly straightforward; it’s ‘designed to provide its owners with an excellent offshore cruiser that could oc- casionally race around the buoys’. Still someone with an absolute passion for trying to hedge our bets a little, but his work. David sees each boat he pro- there’s no doubt that this is first and duces as an opportunity to make the foremost a bluewater cruiser, so I’m go- best boat possible. Then one day David ing to measure it against those criteria. met his match in a client, Peter Lewis, another perfectionist—a retired forensic pathologist and experienced sailor, who when perfectionist doesn’t do anything by halves. Having meets perfectionist two such personalities working on this project could have doomed this partner- One of the things you realise as you ship to failure, but they shared a com- spend time with David Bradburn is mon goal that united them—to create that he’s a boat-building perfectionist, the best boat possible.

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Bluewater 450 boat test 24 15/10/09 10:00:22 AM “This boat is so feature-rich with good, well-executed ideas that walking through provides a treasure-trove of ‘I’d like one of those moments’”.

This is not to say that the relationship Most boat builders would have said you have that this is not your ‘run of the MAIN IMAGE: The was not without challenges. There was, ‘sorry, mate’, but in characteristic fash- mill’ cruising boat. Little did I know as Bluewater 450 is an for example, the day that Peter called ion, David looked at what Peter wanted I stepped on board that this boat would ocean cruiser with a nice turn of speed. David to tell him that instead of a sugar to do and he realised ‘this could actually have dozens of such indicators. Indeed, scoop , he wanted to extend the improve the boat’, so the Bluewater 450 this boat is so feature-rich with good, OPPOSITE PAGE: stern of the boat by 600 mm, have a clas- centre- was born! well-executed ideas that walking through The Bluewater 450 sic stern with lockers and a hydraulic it provides a treasure-trove of ‘I’d like one is available in aft swim platform. Essentially, he wanted of those on my boat’ moments. and centre cockpit to turn an aft cockpit boat into a centre First impressions Don’t get me wrong—this boat is not versions. cockpit boat. No problem if the boat was One of the first things you notice as you perfect. There are a number of things I’d still on the drawing board, but David walk up to Charlie’s Dream is the candy like to change and I’ll point those things was looking out his window at a finished red fibreglass arch over the doghouse. out as we go along, but there’s also a lot just out of the mould! It stands out and it’s the first indication to admire about the Bluewater 450.

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Bluewater 450 boat test 25 15/10/09 10:03:06 AM boat test bluewater 450

“Like most cruising rigs the emphasis is on ease of sail handling and flexibility.”

Last things first you to pick up your outboard and drop it There’s so much to like about the Working from the stern forward let me into a purpose-built storage well in the design of this boat. The only complaint lead you through this boat and point aft locker. This is a feature popularised I have with the aft set-up is the out some of the features you might ap- by Henri Amel, and here it is popping up way the twin backstays intrude on the preciate. As I mentioned previously on the Bluewater 450. deck area (going through the deck well Peter wanted a hydraulic swim plat- As you move forward of the aft lock- inboard of the rails). My personal pref- form. Push a button and whirrrrr, the ers you’ll notice a couple of chocks and erences would have been to go with a stern door folds down to form a wide a gas bayonet just aft of the cockpit. single adjustable backstay secured to a swim platform. Hidden in the centre of You’re looking at the platform for an chain plate on the stern or backstay with the platform is a spring-loaded stain- outdoor kitchen. When he’s in a calm a bridle that goes to the rails. less steel ladder that makes climbing anchorage Peter sets up a proper gas in and out of the water a breeze. Inside barbecue facing the aft deck with its the minimal garage you’ll find a fresh in-built, undercover seating. Not bad, Ever been in the water shower and storage for the two eh? But wait, it gets even better. Fancy doghouse? LPG gas bottles. a beer to cool your thirst? Lift up the Also at the stern is a custom-designed port side helm seat and the entire lock- I don’t know about you, but I seem to be set of davits with in-built seating and a er has been turned into a refrigerator, constantly in the doghouse. There’s one roof structure that supports three solar complete with 12V cooling plate and a doghouse, however, that I don’t mind panels and shades the stern deck. The drain at the low point. I’ll take a XXXX being in and that’s the ‘hard overhead davit design incorporates pivoting arms and one of those refrigerator lockers as dodger’ type that the Bluewater 450 that swivel far enough inboard to allow well, thank you! has. It provides excellent protection

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Bluewater 450 boat test 26 15/10/09 10:03:56 AM MAIN IMAGE: The bimini and davits provide shade, making the boat more pleasant and liveable.

OPPOSITE PAGE: : The cork deck has excellent thermal and sound insulating qualities and is cooler than teak. The staysail is on a self-tacker.

BOTTOM: Fancy a drink? The refrigerator locker under the helmsman’s seat comes complete with a drain at the low point.

from the weather whilst still providing headsail sheets, run under deck into the from getting below in the event a wave good visibility forward. Whilst racers doghouse, through Spinlock Ronstan floods the cockpit. would eschew the windage a doghouse jammers and then into purpose-built All in all the cockpit layout is very creates, they rate highly on any offshore self-draining line storage boxes. This good. cruiser’s wish list. design keeps the cockpit clear of tangled One of the other things you notice lines and slip hazards. about this cockpit is there are lockers Charlie’s Dream has seven Ander- And the rig? everywhere. There are generously-sized son , two electric 58s for the Like most cruising rigs the emphasis is port and aft lazarettes, two lockers un- primaries, two 40s for the secondar- on ease of sail handling and flexibility. der the helmsman’s seat (one is the re- ies, two 46s on the cabin tops (one of The Bluewater 450 uses a two-spreader, frigerator), two self-draining line storage which is electric for raising the hal- masthead staysail rig with running lockers and a small locker for things like yard) and a 40 at the . Between backstays. Peter has opted for a Leisure handles. David half-jokes that the electric winch for the halyard and Furl in- furling system, which en- Peter went over the plan and any un- the Leisure furl boom, raising and ables him to have a fully battened main used spaces, no matter how small, were trimming the headsail would be easy for better sailing performance. The turned into storage lockers. One look for the cruising couple. boom is supported by a spring-loaded at Peter confirms he wouldn’t have had I did find the companionway access vang and there’s a Hutton boom brake it any other way. “You can never have a bit restricted. The entry to the com- to prevent those accidental gybes. Both enough storage on a boat!” panionway is a fair bit higher than nor- the headsail and self-tacking staysail All lines, with the exception of the mal to provide additional headroom are on Harken roller furlers. The 120% mainsheet, mainsheet traveller and in the aft cabin and prevent water genoa has vertical foam pads sewn

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Bluewater 450 boat test 27 15/10/09 10:04:32 AM boat test bluewater 450

into the luff to maintain a better shape when partially furled and the two - sails gives Peter numerous sail options, particularly downwind. As you would expect from a cruising boat the foot of the sails are cut fairly high to allow waves to travel underneath. What about the pointy end? As you move forward there are good handholds and generously-sized toe rails to keep you safe. The Bluewater 450 has two well-sized rollers and it comes standard with a 60 lb. Mason plough anchor with 70 metres of 3/8ths inch chain on a heavy duty Lewmar an- chor windlass, with a remote control in the cockpit with anchor counter. Char- lie’s Dream also has a well-designed deck wash system with selectable salt and fresh water supplies, and a spring-load- ed roll-up hose canister to keep things nice and neat. If you liked the top, you’re gonna love the bottom

The interior of the Bluewater 450 has a ‘yacht’ feel to it and the detailing in the woodwork is impressive (more on this later). Whilst my personal pref- erences would have been for a lighter “Her sail area/displacement ratio is wood, such as the Cherry, the Tasma- reasonably high at 18.85...she has a lot nian Blackwood and Oak interior on Charlie’s Dream still works well due of ‘get-up and go’ in her sail plan.” in large part to the amount of light streaming in from four, count them… four, salon hatches and four opening There are a number of good hand- opens from the top as well—the idea be- salon windows. If I seem to be overly holds and whilst I’m on the subject of ing that you use the front door for initial emphasising the number of hatches and handholds, take a look at the photos loading and to reach hard to get at items, windows, believe me, I’m not. There is of the detail on the handholds; they’ve with the commonly-used items accessed nothing worst than sitting in a stuffy taken a practical item and with a bit from the top. The galley is large enough cabin in stifling heat, and too many more effort made it into an architectural to be comfortable, yet small enough that modern boat builders cut corners (and feature. Forward of the salon is a pair you could brace yourself in when cook- costs) by providing a small number of of bunk beds to starboard and a second ing at sea; it’s well designed for the livea- tiny hatches and fixed windows, which head to port. A roomy V-berth forward board cruiser. can make an otherwise nice cabin, un- completes the layout. The companionway steps lift to reveal tenable on a hot day. a 75 HP Yanmar engine with easy access The standard layout, which can be from the front, sides and back. Another customised for the owner, is a forward Features galore nice feature is a storage locker built into facing nav station to starboard with a The nav station is well laid out for the the top companionway step, providing a U-shaped galley to port. Aft is a centre- electronic and paper-based navigator convenient place to storage spare winch line, double bed owner’s stateroom with (and the chart table is large enough to handles and commonly used tools. an ensuite. The ensuite has two access take full size charts). At the base of the The only things I would change be- doors, allowing the head to service the nav station is a pull-out file folder drawer low deck are the location of the mast owner’s stateroom and the main sa- to keep your paperwork organised. and the headroom in the aft cabin. The lon. The salon is well designed with a The galley features a front and top Bluewater 450 has a keel stepped mast U-shaped lounge to port and a straight opening refrigerator. I’m not a fan of that runs through the salon. Where lounge/sea berth to starboard front opening refrigerators, but this one possible I like to see masts incorpo-

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Bluewater 450 boat test 28 15/10/09 10:05:28 AM CLOCKWISE FROM OPPOSITE PAGE: The Tasmanian Blackwood and Oak interior has a ‘yacht’ feel to it.

The detailing in the heads show both form and function.

The nav station is well laid out and can accommodate full size charts.

The standard of the woodwork is excellent. Here they’ve taken a practical item, a handhold, and turned it into an architectural feature as well.

The engine is accessible from the front, sides and back—giving allround access.

To starboard there’s a comfortable lounge/sea berth.

rated into bulkheads. I’d also prefer a Gladstone and Lord Howe Island Races, at $1,050,000 including GST, which bit more height in the aft cabin. This and the local twilights. may sound like a lot, but that’s a sail isn’t always possible as designers need When you look at the numbers you’ll away price that includes pretty much to balance headroom with the demands understand how Peter’s able to race the everything you’re going to need except for space above in the cockpit. Bluewater 450. The Bluewater 450 has safety equipment. As you walk through the Bluewa- a displacement to length ratio of 211, ter 450 you begin to get a sense of the which makes her a medium displace- For more information call David Bradburn amount of thought and effort that’s gone ment boat. Her sail area to displacement at Bluewater Yachts on 02 4956 8522. into the design and construction of this ratio, however, is reasonably high at Bluewater Yachts paid for the author’s boat. The fact that it’s Australian-made 18.85. In other words, she has a lot of get airfare from Sydney to Brisbane. makes it even better. up and go in her sail plan. These figures are evident in her sailing performance, which is very good. Boat Test Specifications So how does she sail? We took Charlie’s Dream out in a 10- LOA 13.72m You may remember that the design 14 knot northerly on Moreton Bay and brief included the phrase ‘...an excellent she averaged 6-6.5 knots on all points of Beam 4.1m offshore cruiser that could also occa- sail. She points well and tacks easily. For Draft 1.95m sionally race around the buoys.’ Well, a well equipped cruising boat, the Blue- Charlie’s Dream does that and more. water 450 has a nice turn of speed and Displacement 13500kg In addition to cruising, Peter regularly the helm is responsive. Ballast 4700kg races Charlie’s Dream in offshore regat- The Bluewater 450 is available in Sail area (main + head) 100.5m2 tas, including the Sydney to Hobart, the aft and centre-cockpit versions, priced

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Bluewater 450 boat test 29 15/10/09 10:06:25 AM